In this guide
On 19 May 2016, the town of Phalodi, in western Rajasthan, recorded a temperature of 51.0°C — the highest ever measured in India. A few months earlier, in winter, parts of the state had seen temperatures near freezing. Rajasthan's climate is one of extremes: extremes of heat and cold, of rain and drought, of the desert west and the more humid south-east. Understanding it explains much about the state's agriculture, water, settlement and way of life.
What shapes Rajasthan's climate
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Latitude | Lies largely north of the Tropic of Cancer — subtropical; hot summers, cool winters |
| Continentality | Far from the sea — large daily and seasonal temperature ranges |
| The Aravallis | Run parallel to the south-west monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, so they do not force the winds to rise and rain over the west |
| Monsoon branches | The Arabian Sea branch passes over the west with little rain; the Bay of Bengal branch reaches the east with more rain, weakening as it moves west |
| Sandy terrain | Heats and cools rapidly |
| Vegetation | Sparse cover increases heat and dust |
The seasons
| Season | Months | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | March–June | Very high temperatures, especially in the west; hot, dry loo winds; andhi (dust storms) |
| South-west monsoon | Late June–September | Most of the annual rainfall; rain decreases from south-east to north-west |
| Retreating monsoon | October–November | Clear skies, falling temperatures |
| Winter | December–February | Cold nights, sometimes near or below freezing in the north and west; light rain from western disturbances, locally called mavath, useful for rabi crops |
Rainfall
- Rajasthan's average rainfall is well below India's average.
- Rainfall decreases from the south-east to the north-west:
- the south-east (Jhalawar, Banswara) and Mount Abu get the most — Mount Abu receives the highest rainfall in the state;
- the far west (Jaisalmer) gets the least — often below 10–15 cm a year.
- Rainfall is highly variable — the drier the region, the more variable the rain.
- The 50 cm isohyet (line of equal rainfall) runs roughly along the Aravallis, separating the arid and semi-arid west from the sub-humid east.
Temperature
- Highest: the west (Phalodi, Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Barmer, Jaisalmer) — often above 45°C in May–June.
- Lowest in winter: the north and west (Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar), where frost can occur; Mount Abu is cool because of altitude.
- The daily range of temperature is very large in the desert.
Local weather phenomena
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Loo | Hot, dry wind in summer afternoons — can cause heatstroke |
| Andhi | Dust storm, especially in May–June |
| Mavath | Winter rain from western disturbances — valuable for rabi crops |
| Bhabhuda | Local whirlwind (dust devil) in the desert |
Climatic regions
Rajasthan is often divided into climatic regions based on rainfall and temperature — for example:
| Region | Areas | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Arid | Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, western Jodhpur, Sri Ganganagar | Rainfall below about 20–25 cm; desert vegetation |
| Semi-arid | Eastern desert margin — Churu, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jalore, Pali | 25–50 cm; steppe vegetation |
| Sub-humid | Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Tonk | 50–80 cm |
| Humid | Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, Banswara, Dungarpur | 80 cm and above |
| Very humid | Mount Abu | Highest rainfall; cool |
In the Köppen classification, the far west is hot desert (BWh), the eastern desert margin hot steppe (BSh), and the south-east tropical savanna-type (Aw).
Drought
Drought has been a constant companion of life in Rajasthan. Some part of the state faces drought conditions in most years, and severe droughts affect large areas several times a decade.
Causes:
- low and highly variable rainfall;
- late onset or early withdrawal of the monsoon;
- long dry spells during the monsoon;
- high evaporation;
- depleted groundwater.
Types:
- Meteorological — rainfall well below normal;
- Agricultural — crops fail for lack of soil moisture;
- Hydrological — reservoirs and groundwater fall;
- Fodder scarcity — especially serious in a livestock-dependent state.
Impacts: crop failure; fodder shortages and livestock deaths; drinking-water crises; migration; debt.
Historical memory: famines such as the Chhappaniya Akal (1899–1900) still live in folk memory.
Drought management
| Measure | Examples |
|---|---|
| Water harvesting | Tankas, johads, khadins; Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan |
| Irrigation | Indira Gandhi Canal, micro-irrigation |
| Drought-resistant crops | Bajra, moth, guar, millets |
| Fodder banks | Cattle camps and fodder depots in drought years |
| Employment | MGNREGA works during drought |
| Early warning | IMD forecasts; state drought declarations |
| Research | CAZRI, Jodhpur |
Climate change
Rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves and more variable rainfall are expected to intensify drought and water stress. Rajasthan's State Action Plan on Climate Change sets out adaptation strategies in water, agriculture, health and forests.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Where was India's highest recorded temperature measured, and when?
- Which place receives the highest rainfall in Rajasthan?
- What is mavath?
- In which direction does rainfall decrease across Rajasthan?
- What is the loo?
Mains-style (50 words): Why does western Rajasthan receive little rainfall?
Mains-style (100 words): Discuss the causes and impacts of drought in Rajasthan and suggest mitigation measures.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
Get the next RAS guide by email
New guides every week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.